zen and the art of the drum circle

This is a doctored picture of me (centre) playing in a drum circle at the Oodeena Circle.
I absolutely love playing in a good Drum Circle. It is one of my favourite experiences. Magic can happen when a collection of good hand drummers gather into a circle and play percussion together. When players surrender their egos and create music together, magic usually does happen.
I like the fact that in a drum circle most people play instruments with a limited melodic/harmonic output. I like the freedom that comes in playing a hand drum that has only three or so main sounds. This limitation forces us to place our notes carefully in the overall group rhythm/melody. For the circle to work, we have to work together with the other musicians. We have to really listen carefully, and create a rhythmic melody through the use of the hocket.
Drum circles create music that is synergistic. The whole is much greater than the sum of its parts. And this creates a feeling of community.
It is a special feeling when everyone entrains together. Big smiles break out on faces when everyone gets into the groove. It is a magical kind of joy that really has to be experienced to be understood.
I think it is interesting that we have to let go of our "thinking mind" and just become one with the music. There isn't enough time to think. We just play, and trust our hands.
I prefer playing with drums that are made of "natural" elements like wood, skin and metal. These materials expand and shrink with the weather... which changes the pitches and pitch relationships of the drums. So this kind of drum is never really the same instrument from one day to the next. Each time we play a djembe, we get to know its new sound.
To me, the fact that our instruments change with the weather means that we are forced to listen to THIS particular sound... right here... right now. We adjust our playing to the present circumstance. We can't play well unless we are fully aware in the present moment. It is as much about "letting go" (surrender) as it is about actively playing. And to me, this is about as "Zen" as things get. And this means that the music that we create in drum cirlces is always unique and new. We are composing new music, in real time.
How could someone not be excited by this? Beats me.

I love to improvise when playing music with others. In improvisation, I don't concern myself with remembering patterns, cues or breaks (as I might if I were playing a previously-composed song). I just listen deeply, relax, and play what feels right in this moment. This is a tremendous freedom. Some people feel intimidated by this freedom, and get lost in anxiety about what to play. Not me. I like to let go of my anxiety and live fully in the present moment. It is an opportunity to trust our intuition.. Plus, I'm addicted to the magical feelings that happen.
While playing in various drum circles, I have often felt ecstatic, transcendent feelings, that many people would describe as being "spiritual". Well, to me, all of life is spiritual. I just experience it for what it is and "ride the wave". I enjoy the moment, knowing it will eventually fade... and that it will happen again (differently) in another time and place. This is life. The important thing is this moment... Now.
I especially love to play in big drum circles when we are outdoors around a campfire, under stars and moonshine, away from electric lights and modern civilization. The addition of dancers and fire dancers just heightens the experience further. I live for this kind of experience.